Putintseva Responds After On-Court Dispute with Sakkari

Women’s tennis player Yulia Putintseva shared her thoughts on a tense moment with Maria Sakkari during the Bad Homburg Open this past weekend. After Sakkari triumphed over Putintseva with a score of 7-5, 7-6 (6), the atmosphere became charged.

It appeared that Sakkari had an issue with how Putintseva waved goodbye after the match. According to reports, Sakkari approached Putintseva to vent her frustrations, stating, “No one likes you,” and mentioning that she expected to see her opponent while shaking hands.

In response, Putintseva took to Instagram, clarifying her side of the incident. She wrote, “By the way—don’t worry—I waved at her like most women do. It seems that some men follow their own ‘Hugging Protocol’.” This comment seems to suggest her confusion over the reaction.

The issue apparently escalated when Putintseva slapped Sakkari’s hand after the match, leading to a back-and-forth that heightened tensions. The entire scenario was sparked by what seemed like a simple enough exchange but quickly spiraled into something more intense.

Later, in a post-match interview, Sakkari acknowledged the situation as she walked toward the locker room. While emphasizing it didn’t faze her, she acknowledged the odd dynamic, saying, “I don’t think she’s going to invite me to dinner for the rest of our lives. I have very good friends to dine with.” She added that she respected Putintseva’s skills as a player.

Sakkari is set to face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next stage of the tournament, while both players seem to have moved on from the incident, albeit with some lingering tension.

As Wimbledon approaches next month, both athletes will surely be looking to focus on their games and leave any off-court dramas behind.